CHAPTER 131 - Celestial Weapon Forged by Celestial core

Li Lin exchanged greetings with Sivir and the belated Cassiopeia.

The noble girl from the Du Couteau family, Cassiopeia, apologized for her tardiness, though such polite words were merely a formality that everyone understood.

In simpler terms, Cassiopeia's words meant, "My bad, won't happen again." After all, every time she collaborated with Sivir, she would say the same thing.

But hey, she's the financier. Even if Sivir harbored some dissatisfaction with Cassiopeia's attitude, she chose to endure it. Making money was the priority, and Cassiopeia paid handsomely.

After the Noxian guards had organized the supplies and loaded them onto camels, a team of dozens set out from the southern gate of Nashramae.

Kassadin was already waiting with two Skarlash in tow.

Riding these colossal creatures, about five to six meters tall, didn't require much skill. Just sit cross-legged on the neck, near the peak's concave area, and maintain balance with the reins.

Kassadin briefly taught Li Lin how to balance, and after a minute or two, he grasped the technique.

Following Sivir and her mercenary group at the front, with Cassiopeia and Noxian guards in the middle, Li Lin and Kassadin, mounted on the huge Skarlash, brought up the rear.

The morning desert wasn't scorching yet, but for Li Lin, a first-timer in the desert despite his powered armor's heat insulation and cooling functions, the extremely dry air had a more significant impact. The respirator could only filter out sand particles lifted by the heat, but it couldn't humidify the air.

Fortunately, Kassadin taught Li Lin the unique breathing method of the desert dwellers, making him much more comfortable.

The desert journey was monotonous.

Typically, to preserve moisture, experienced travelers avoided unnecessary conversation.

However, Nashramae wasn't far from Shurima, just a three to four days' journey. With Skarlash carrying abundant supplies and the replenishment from the floating mechanical device, they weren't too concerned about thirst.

During the journey, Li Lin asked Kassadin about many things to be aware of in the desert—how to find water sources in case of scarcity, which desert plants could serve as emergency food, how to avoid dangerous creatures, and how to deal with them if encountered.

As a desert guide, Kassadin had seen many people who acted like they knew everything and ended up perishing in the sand. So, he appreciated Li Lin's attitude toward valuing his own life and patiently answered his questions.

At least this young man wasn't recklessly venturing into the desert without thinking, like many others.

Regarding Li Lin's earlier intention to study the Void in advance for preparedness, Kassadin maintained a skeptical attitude.

The Void wasn't something an ordinary human could approach. Even Kassadin himself needed thorough preparation—blessed defensive armor, weapons to slay Void entities, and a special item to prevent corruption of body and soul.

Yet here was Li Lin, fully aware of the dangers of the Void, abandoning the comfort of nobility and leaving his loved ones behind to approach the Void...

Kassadin didn't understand Li Lin's motives. He felt there was more to Li Lin's goals than what he casually mentioned.

But seeing that Li Lin had no malicious intent, Kassadin didn't dwell on it too much.

Three to four days passed swiftly.

Crossing the vast desert between two towns, Sivir and Cassiopeia decided to rest for a day in Shurima, preparing additional supplies for the upcoming journey.

The next destination was the boundless "Great Sai Desert," leading to the ruins of the Sun Disc, the former imperial capital of the Sun City.

The distance between the two was about a month's travel, and there would be no more towns for them to restock.

So, tonight would be the "final" night of revelry for the mercenaries and Noxian guards.

In the town's most luxurious inn, Li Lin enjoyed a comfortable bath.

Water resources were scarce in towns far from rivers and oases in the desert, making Li Lin's luxury of a bath quite expensive—about twenty silver sand coins. However, this amount was equivalent to just a few silver cogs, not a significant expense for him.

Later, on Kassadin's recommendation, Li Lin tried a special Shuriman lunch—a Sun Bread with camel dairy products.

Sun Bread, with its unique Shuriman flavor, was baked in a specially crafted "earth oven," and paired with dairy products made from camel milk. The aroma was delightful, lacking any gamey taste, making it appetizing.

Although Li Lin generally didn't favor the Western taste of "bread and cheese," he still devoured an entire Sun Bread the size of a forearm.

In the afternoon, Kassadin went to prepare supplies for the upcoming journey.

With nothing else to do, Li Lin wandered around the ancient town of Zuretta.

Zuretta was an ancient and historic town.

In ancient tales, the first emperor of Shurima, Empress Setaka's daughter, served as the priestess of the Ascended in this town, selecting those qualified for ascension.

In the center of this town lies the temple of the Ascended, with a massive replica of the Sun Disc standing atop the temple, reflecting the golden rays of the sun on its smooth marble surface.

As Li Lin gazed at the millennia-old metal disc, envisioning how the real Sun Disc would float in the air, a familiar female voice interrupted his thoughts:

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Sivir?"

Li Lin turned in surprise, and there stood Sivir with a crossblade on her back, gazing down at the replica Sun Disc, meeting his gaze with a faint smile.

She approached Li Lin, and, side by side, they looked at the town, a symbol of the fallen empire.

"The temple of Zuretta's Ascended, dedicated to the spirit of Setaka's daughter, Glatisse. Due to the collapse of the replica Sun Disc of Nashramae, many pilgrims come here to worship the divine warrior."

Sivir's emerald eyes wandered, "In Zuretta's legend, this great Ascended, much like her mother, fell in battle against the Void and was buried under the temple."

"Have you been to her tomb?" Li Lin raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Of course... never been." Sivir shook her head, smiling lightly. "For centuries, no one has found the entrance to Glatisse's tomb in the temple. I've tried, but in vain."

Well, even Sivir, who specializes in such matters, can't find the underground tomb?

Li Lin couldn't help but be curious.

Later, Sivir continued, "I even doubt the truth of Zuretta's legend."

"If it's true, there might be a failed Ascended like Baccai guarding the tomb, right?"

"Huh? It seems you know quite a bit about Shurima's history. You even even knew about Baccai?" Sivir looked at Li Lin with surprise.

Li Lin smiled and casually gave a reason, "I'm a scholar..."

The conversation ended, and a strange silence fell between them.

After a while, Sivir , who had regained her composure, broke the silence with a muffled voice, "What did you mean by what you said earlier?"

"Hmm? What did I say?" Li Lin raised an eyebrow, suddenly remembering a few days ago at the gates of Nashramae, where he seemed to have played the role of a riddle solver.

"Bloodline and destiny. Why did you ask me about that?" Sivir turned around, her sharp gaze fixed on Li Lin. "I've been thinking all the way, but I can't figure out what you're trying to express."

How am I supposed to tell you?

Do I say that when we reach the ruins of the Sun City, Cassiopeia will betray you, and then your blood will resurrect Emperor Azir?

Li Lin scratched his head, unsure of how to answer.

Seeing his appearance, Sivir's suspicion deepened, "Do you know something?"

Li Lin and this woman who knew nothing about her origins stared at each other. Eventually, he sighed helplessly, pointing to the crossblade on her back.

"Sivir, I think you should know its name, right?"

Sivir frowned, nodded with a certain nasal sound, "This is a family heirloom commissioned by an elder from Nashramae two years ago..."

Sivir only revealed the first part of the information.

As for the second part, Li Lin understood it without her saying it.

When she found "Chalicar" in the tomb of a certain divine warrior, Sivir instantly fell in love with it, killed her employer's bodyguard squad, and kept it for herself.

"You're wrong. It's not an elder's family heirloom, but the weapon of a great divine warrior from ancient times."

Li Lin noticed a slight contraction of Sivir's pupils, a trace of shock fleeting.

But he didn't finish his words, "The weapon of Empress Setaka, the first emperor of Shurima, forged by the celestial core of a star and celestial material, bestowed upon the first ascender of this Rune-enchanted land."

"That's... that's is impossible!"

Sivir, with an incredulous face, instinctively stepped back a few steps and took off Chalicar, which she had fixed to her back.

In the golden sunlight, its golden blade seemed to flow with dazzling magical light.

"Nothing is impossible, Sivir."

Li Lin shook his head, pointing at Chalicar, saying, "The weapon of the first emperor, Empress Setaka, is not something that anyone can freely wield... This is what I asked you before, do you believe in bloodlines and destinies."

Sivir stared at Chalicar, gently caressing its blade, and asked Li Lin another question, "Why do you know so much?"

Li Lin had anticipated that she would ask this, shook his head with a light smile, and replied with a prepared answer, "Read more books, and you can be as knowledgeable as I am."

"..." Sivir was speechless.

(End of this chapter)